Your guide to Florida's outdoors, by Sandra Friend, Florida's hiking expert, and her co-author John Keatley, covering the Florida Trail and other trails throughout Florida.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville offers many hikes along the estuaries and a handful along its beaches, as well as a surprising number of urban parks with short walks ideal for families. It is a fabulous destination for off-road biking, and the paddling opportunities through the marshlands are superb.

Trails and Parks in Jacksonville

Amelia Island State Park-A sweep of Atlantic Coast beach awaits along the southern tip of Amelia Island, where the sand glistens and the surf is frequently up. Amelia Island State Park protects 200 acres along the island's shore.

Arlington Park-A breezy walk along the St. Johns River is an easy way to start your day in Jacksonville at the Arlington Lions Club Park, with riverside boardwalks and a mile of trails

Big Talbot Big Pine Trail-The southernmost trail on Big Talbot Island is the 0.8-mile Big Pine Trail, a short walk out to a bluff above the estuary through a maritime hammock riffled by breezes

Big Talbot Island State Park-For a taste of tidal pools and black rock beaches in Florida, get out of your car and walk down to the unique shoreline of Big Talbot Island State Park.

Black Rock Trail-An unusual and picturesque geologic anomoly, Blackrock Beach at Big Talbot Island is covered with formations that look like black lava rocks but are made of sand

Campground Nature Trail-At Little Talbot Island State Park, the 0.8-mile Campground Nature Trail offers a side of Little Talbot that the whole family can enjoy—along the estuary

Cary Nature Trail-In the 3,413-acre Cary State Forest, the 1.4 mile Cary Nature Trail is hiking only, one among dozens of miles of multi-use trails, a great short walk for kids

Castaway Island Preserve-Along the meandering, estuarine San Pablo River, Castaway Island Preserve is a breezy spot to get away from the city and enjoy a breath of fresh air on a nature trail

Florida Trail, Nice Wander Loop-In the Osceola National Forest, this short loop adjacent to Olustee Battlefield is one of the easiest places in the state to see red-cockaded woodpeckers

Florida’s Best Urban Parks-When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our top picks for parks in Florida's urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.

Fort Caroline-At the site of the original French settlement in Florida, circa 1562, the Hammock Nature Trail interprets the interactions between native Timucua and the French.

Fort George Island Cultural State Park-With layer upon layer of human habitation atop the highest hill on the Southeastern Atlantic coast, Fort George Island still shows signs of the human touch: the coastal scrub forest is filling in former golf greens.

Island Hiking Trail-At Little Talbot Island State Park, the Island Hiking Trail is a 3.5-mile loop that guides you on a scramble over big dunes to a beach walk on the Atlantic Ocean

Jacksonville-Baldwin Trail-Following a historic railroad route that was the spark for the Battle of Olustee during the Civil War, the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail is an excellent bike trail that spans 14.5 miles from Jacksonville to Baldwin.

Jones Cut Trail-The 1.5-mile Jones Cut Trail provides a meander into the heart of the maritime forest that carpets Big Talbot Island State Park, but it’s not the easiest trail to find

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park-With cool ocean breezes and a plunge in the surf after your hike, the 2.7-mile trail at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville is a great choice for a summer outing

Little Talbot Island State Park-With one of the closest wild beaches to Jacksonville, Little Talbot Island State Park is a heavily visited park, and not just for its beaches. Paddling in the estuaries and camping amid the dunes are popular pastimes, too.

Loftin Nature Trails-In a densely wooded corner of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, the Robert W. Loftin Nature Trails are a prime place for trail runners and hikers to play.

Nature and Nostalgia at Camp Chowenwaw Park-In a deeply forested area on Black Creek north of Green Cove Springs, Camp Chowenwaw Park provides campers and hikers a unique destination, a former Girl Scout Camp with a rich history.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park-At Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, more than 10,000 Confederate and Union soldiers met and fought amid the longleaf pines in the largest battle on Florida soil. Like Gettysburg, Olustee has its own ghosts.

Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park-Within city limits yet truly wild, Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park protects more than 4,000 acres as it rambles along the edges of enormous estuaries draining into the St. Johns River.